PIR Pricing - ridiculous

[jedisparks]

One of my regular customers who ive been working for for years is moving abroad and are planning to rent their house while they are away.

Their letting agent has told them they need an "electrical rental certificate" Obviously we all know on here that such a thing dosent exist so i assumed they meant a PIR. The letting agents gave her a price and she thinks they are ripping her off so she asks me for a price because ive worked for them for years and she trusts me.

its quite a large 4 bedroom house with 3 seperate outbuildings each wit theri own CU. So i just phoned her and said that would be 170 pounds (still abit cheap really but wanted to keep them as customers). she nearly fell off her seat. i asked how much the agent had quoted and she said 85 pounds. so i wonder what the hell their inspection covers cant be much for 85 squid.

there no way i can do it that cheap, really anoying not only am i being undercut but ive lost a good customer in the process.

rant over thanks for reading

 

[pennywise]

you'll probably find that half the certificate would have been filled out before they even got to the job at those rates , it's got to be a full day in my book, as you say slightly cheap on your quote but still a fare price.

 

[UNG]

Would bet the agent is taking a cut on the £85 as well

 

[roukel01]

We do alot of work on rented properties, when we were approached to do something similar, we gave a price and the same thing, they thought we were miles out, I then asked to see previous "Landlord certificates" and the people who currently do the testing, simply do a visual and Earth loop tests on socket circuits, and thats it.

Until people are educated on what is required, or the whole PIR system is revamped so that people know what they are paying for, this kind of thing will continue.

 

[jedisparks]

As far as im concerned ive gone in too cheap anyway. it will be a full days work no doubt. and that is including vat! but like i said id like to keep them as theyve been good customers in the past. the lady is going to speak to the agent to find out exactly what she will be getting.

I think the whole PIR, Visual condition report, landlord certifcate thing does need sorting out as this sort of thing comes up alot. very confusing for customers and creates an uneven playing field for us.

clarity greatly needed me thinks

Maybe a "landord Certificate" needs to be introduced with a standard format very similar to a PIR. that way when a landlord asks for a "landlords certificate" every one knows what they mean.

 

[jedisparks]

just realised, ive probably posted ths in the wrong place, sorry

 

[Guest123]

I bet the agent uses a certain company that carries out combined inspections.....*** ****.

I've seen these people at work.....leaves a LOT to be desired.

 

[wattsup]

I once quoted 90 quid for a small terraced, the landlord said 'we have a quote for both electric and gas testing for 60...i said, you best let them do it then.
To be honest I'm sick of landords, slow payers (once not at all) want immediate response, quote before starting work...

Now if landlord or agent I just say no thanks, we no longer work with letting agents etc etc...no point, the hassle is not worth it

 

[Scott F]

I bet the agent uses a certain company that carries out combined inspections.....*** ****.

I've seen these people at work.....leaves a LOT to be desired.

Thats putting it mildly

 

[bobodhi]

Unpleasant situation to find yourself in, question is, what to do?
Cut your own throat or starve? or maybe you think of yourself as the professional you are and give them the price and leave it.
We're all aware that eventually they will get burnt and then who will they call to pick up the pieces?
You. (assuming you haven't given up in the meantime )
If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
If you make like a carpet, expect to get walked on.
Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
Hold your head up, we're better than the fools.
Good luck!

 

[tuckermot]

£80.00 they are taking the mick !!!!

I am in buisness to make a profit not a loss !!!

I charge £150-£200 for a 3-4 bedroom house with that they get a full days testing with a pir that actually means something

 

[Spudnik]

Until PIR's become a legal requirement on rentals, this will continue to happen.

 

[rocker]

Ask this lady to ask her letting agency if they would be happy to have a qualified electrician there when their boys are doing this £80 inspection.

 

[Scott F]

Most people only care about the price . I have been told after a similar situation happened to me that a visual

( I followed *** ****) is the least that the insurance companies will except and if I told the landlord the

price is a days rate he would run a mile. they also have a little disclaimer at the bottom . to cover their

behind . Its annoying bite your lip and move on

 

[bramboy]

We lost work with a letting agent for being to fussy on tests. Just minor things such as no earth main in place or crumbling conductors behind sockets.
We had to right the money off because another firm gave the tennant a `pass` P.I.R. that was the agents verdict!

Its not over tills its over on the money side thou